Allegations pile up over claims funds mishandled at Toronto kids’ rowing program

Jayme was just 15 years old when she landed her dream summer job working at Bayside Rowing Club.

“Being on the water all day was great,” she said. “It was a blast.”

A not-for-profit organization, Bayside Rowing Club sold services to rowers that then covered the cost of getting inner city kids out on the water.

There were also off-season fundraisers and requests for donations — all run by Dominic Khan.

READ MORE: Questions raised about funding for inner city kids’ rowing program in Toronto

“He said he was helping inner city kids,” said Jayme, who requested her last name not be used.

She also said when she worked at the club in 2012 she did not see the program for underprivileged kids running.

But Khan claims there has always been a kids program.

“Every year we had inner city kids rowing,” he said.

Jayme said she and her coworker had to go to the Labour Relations Board before being paid what they were owed.

She said while at Bayside Rowing Club, when they asked about their pay cheques Khan would give them some cash and tell them there was no more money.

But she said the employees had access to the company cellphone, which had a link to Bayside’s bank account.

“We could see these thousands of dollars being transferred out of the Bayside account,” she said.

When asked where all the money went, and whether he was using it for himself, Khan replied, “No.”

WATCH: Questions about money raised for Toronto kids’ rowing program

3:51 Questions about money raised for Toronto kids’ rowing program

Later he pointed out as executive director he did take an income. However it wasn’t a set amount, he took money as he needed it.

He also said he gave his own money to the rowing club, through his private for-profit company Northwood Lodge.

But Global News acquired a cellphone screen image that showed a bank transfer going from the not-for-profit rowing club to Khan’s business Northwood Lodge.

Global News showed the picture to Khan.

“The inner workings, the inner transactions of Bayside Rowing Club — it’s a separate organization,” he explained, while pausing several times.

Eventually, he claimed it was a repayment.

But there are also questions about the charitable status of Khan’s programs.

Two website promoting it state that they’ll provide tax receipts for donations.

“We’ve never been able to issue tax receipts,” said Khan. “You’re jumping ahead,” he added when pressed for an explanation.

Eventually he said they thought they would have an opportunity to issue tax receipts in 2015, but in the end that didn’t happen.